Title-chasing Huddersfield hope their trip to Westoe secures their first victory at Dean Road as the promotion race continues.
In what historically has been a tough fixture for the club, ‘Field are hoping that the slope on the pitch will not lead to their fall from rivals Stockport who are currently at the summit of National League III North.
Manager Lee Paxman said: “It’ll be a tough game and the lads know we’ve never won at Westoe, but they’re keen to put that right.
“We know we need to come out fast because they’re fighting for their lives to avoid relegation, so it’ll be a tough game.”
Having been 12 points down after 10 minutes against Westoe’s fellow strugglers Firwood & Waterloo last weekend, ‘Field will have to come out firing and show the type of play that led to 43 unanswered points.
‘Field stick with the side that came from behind last week, knowing that a bonus point victory could be crucial, as leaders Stockport will be hoping to do the same as they take on bottom side Penrith.
Paxman said: “We know we have two games in hand but taking maximum points is a must if we’re to win this league.
“We can’t afford to sit back and let teams come at us, it’s a long journey to Westoe and we can’t afford to waste time as letting them go 12 points up will be a near impossible task to overcome.”
But ‘Field will travel in confidence having come from behind last week to win emphatically and having brushed off former leaders Rossendale the week before.
Westoe has won just twice in eight games since the New Year and are currently seven points clear from safety. Having struggled to really put a run of form together, the race to avoid relegation will go all the way to the wire and this is a game they need to win.
Paxman said: “Every team in the league is looking for points to finish as strongly as they can. It’s tight at the top but it’s just as tight at the bottom, so we need to come out fighting and remain unbeaten for the rest of the season to ensure promotion”.
Huddersfield XV to face Westoe
1. Alex Battye
2. James Davies
3. Antony Stringwell
4. Gavin Rhodes
5. Nick Rhodes
6. Ross Thronton
7. Ben Hoyle
8. Nick Sharpe (c)
9. Joel Hinchliff
10. Giles Hetherington
11. Thomas Van Rooyen
12. Tom Owe
13. Ben Mitchell
14. Elliot Hodgson
15. Tom Hodson
Subs:
16. Edward Birkhead
17. Robert Sykes
18. Dan Jeffrey
